MERS Watch: Netherlands Reports Two Cases

The Netherlands is reporting two cases of the Middle East coronavirus (MERS) while hard-hit Saudi Arabia is reporting three new cases and three deaths.

And the World Health Organization is listing more than a dozen laboratory confirmed cases in other parts of the Middle East, although some have been previously reported.

The Netherlands cases are relatives -- a man and a woman -- who traveled together to Saudi Arabia and shared a room while there.

At least one of the two visited a camel farm and both have underlying medical conditions that might predispose them to MERS, the country's national public health institute said.

Both are reportedly in stable condition and isolated in hospital.

In Saudi Arabia, the country's health ministry said three new cases -- all in the capital, Riyadh -- were reported overnight. One patient has died, the ministry said, one is in stable condition, and one has no symptoms.

Also two people with previously reported infections have died and eight have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

The new cases bring the Saudi total, since the virus was first recognized in 2012, to 514, with 160 fatalities.

The WHO said it has been told officially of 14 cases in the United Arab Emirates, the country with the most cases after Saudi Arabia.

Six patients had no symptoms and were found to be positive when they were tested because of contact with a confirmed case or as part of general screening in a workplace.

Two are in stable condition in hospital, four are under intensive care, and two have been discharged, the WHO reported.

The agency also listed single cases in Lebanon and Jordan that have previously been reported publicly by the health ministries of the two countries.

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